Lubricator



F. S. BAR KS Nov. 15, 1932.

LUBRIGATOR Filed Sept. 17, 1930 3 sheets-sheet 1 r LHP LHP n v Q N. Q W I f f |...||l||| ||||I||| Q mai, t m mh.. m. mw www i :1i: my Q .w M? u m. l www bi w G m@ @mw Q Il@ Nov. 15, 1932.

F. S. BARKS LUBRICATOR Filed Sept. 17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 15, 1932 FRANK S. BARKS, F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI LUBRICATOR v.eppncamn and september 17, 1930. serial no. 482,439.

This invention relates to lubricators, and with regard to certainvmore specific features to an improved lubricating system. n

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a lubricating system for supplying a plurality of bearings wherein both the amountl and'character of the lubricating material delivered to individual or groups of bearings mayl be permanently changed and/or varied; -the provision of a device of the class described including means for temporarily changing the rate of delivery of lubricant toall of the bearings in the system; the provision of a device of thel class ydescribed wherein any given bearing or group of bearings may be temporarily supplied with a greater amount of lubricant; the provision of a device `of the class vdescribed in which is normally effected a centralized timing of delivery`- of lubricant to all bearings, theprovision of means of the class described including means for changing said timing; and the provision of a device of the class described whichis which comprises a minimum number` of parts, being simple both in operation and construction. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. 1 The invention accordingly comprises the 'elements and combinations of elements, fea-v tures of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be indicated in the following claims In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodivments of the invention, n

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an used in the system, portions being broken away; Y

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, portions being broken away;

Fig.` 3 is across section of certain parts forming a continuation of Fig. 2, said figure being taken on line 3 3 of Fig. il;

Fig. 4l is across section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross section taken through the outlet of the pump VVon line 5 5 9 of Fig. l; and,

flexible both in application and in operation,

improved pump i Fig. Gis a wiring diagram. y

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout l the several views of the drawings. Y

Referring now more particularly'to Fig. '1, there -is illustrated at the letter Man electric driving motor, preferably, though not necessarily of theconstant speed type. This mo# tor M is geared to a crank shaft 1 by Away of two sets 3 andy 5 of reduction gears. The`former set 3 -of gears is of the non-changeable type Whereas the latter sets 5 of gears is of the change-gear type,`that is, another set may be substituted therefor of different speed ratio but located on the same centers so as to provide a changeable reduction'between the motor and thecrank shaft l. The purpose of this function will appear hereinafter. A

countershaft 7 is used between'the reduction sets 3 and 5.

The crank shaft 1 carries a double throw crank 9 having crank pins ll .andr13,the former crank pin 1l controlling a main re-V ciprocating pump plungerl and the latter tion are of less importance here and all that Y needbe noted for a clear description herein is that said articulation 21 permits angular y' movement between the plunger 15 andiconv nectingV rod 19 as the crank pin llrevolves. The plunger l5 reciprocates in a pump cylinder 23 which is put into and out of ,coml Y mun-ication with ports 25 and'27 by meansk of slopingl connecting ports 29 and 3l respectively, the 'center lines ofA said ports being located in planes at right angles to one another (see Figs. 1 and-5).' v

As shown,fthe connectingvports 29 and 31 Aare bored'angularly'through an oscillable valve lstem 33. This stemy 33 extends out- 55. and immediately attains a maximum velocity,

' follows:

posite ends thereof. The connecting rod 17 passes slidably into said cylinder 41 and isy interiorly provided with a` plunger 45 which is adapted to be engaged by the shock absorbing devices 43 as rotation of crank pi 13 takes place. The sequence of events is as As the main crank 11 moves counter-clockwise starting from the Fig. 2 position it inherently effects a slow acceleration and movement at the plunger 15. At this time the cylinder 23 is in communication with the port 27, said port 27 being the outlet port for lubricant. lnasmuch as the movement of the plunger 15 at the start of a stroke is relatively slow, the valve 33 may have movement imparted thereto to edect a final setting without deleteriously throttlin'g the then slow flow of lubricant. In order to effect valve movement the crank shaft 13 is arranged so that at this period of slow movement of the plunger 15, said crank 13 has just passed through a period of imparting fast movement vto the valve and is approaching a period of imparting slow movement tothe valve.

Next, as the movement ofthe plunger 15 accelerates and comes to a high speed, due to action of the crank'pin 11, the valve 33 comes to vrest as the crank pin 13 comes to dead center and even after dead center `has been passed by said crank pin 13, the valve 33-does not start to move because of the lost motion provided by the device 39. Thus the crank pin 13 starts on its back travel without car-V rying with it the connecting rod 17 and without imparting moton to the valve stem 33. This condition continues until the crank pin 11 approaches its dead center for completing a full pressure stroke and as the plunger 15 slows down and stops, the head 45 of the :connecting rod 17 is engaged by thev right-hand shock absorber 43. This engagement takes place at or substantially at the period when the crank 13 imparts the highest velocity of movement to the crank 37 andV consequently to the valve stem 33. Thus the stem 33 starts from a period of rest with a high acceleration This is done at the period ofslow movement of the plunger 15. Thus a quick change of v gets into its positionfor transmitting higher der 23.

, k vantageous pumping unit usen herein.

velocity tothe plunger 15 on the back stroke of said plunger. Before suction is completed the crank pin 13 has crossed its left-hand dead center and has proceeded to take up the reverselost motion in the device 39upon the reverse oscillation of the valve 33, said lost motion being takenup during lthe high speed return movement of the plunger 15.. As the plunger 15 flows up on its suction stroke,-the lost motion at the device 39 is alltaken up and the valve stem 33 driven with immediate high velocity to the original position for connecting the exhaust port -27 with the pump cylin- From the above it will be seen that there is provided an advantageous valve mechanism for the reciprocating pump used herein, said mechanism comprising a double throw crank, one throw of which reciprocates the plunger and the other throw of which reciprocat'es the valve by controlling flow of fluid to and from the reciprocating plunger. The double throw arrangementv of the crank is such that the two throws are out of phase enough so with the lost-motion connections each ,will provide maximum speed of movement when the other is near a minimum. Also, the movement of the valve occurs at high acceleration and speed, whereby a complete resetting of the valve is effected during the period that the plunger rests and is Amoving only'slowly. y y n As shown in Fig. 1, one end of the inlet'passage 25 is closed by means of a plug` 47. yUpwardly saidk port 25 communicates with a vsupply chamber 49 having a follower 51 and inlet means 53 for applying air pressure back ,offsaid piston 51. Thus the flow of heavy and 5, at numeral 57 is shown a spring loaded relief valve put into communication with the pump cylinder' for the purpose kof relieving pressure and permitting escape of lubricant s'houldthe valve gearbecome or be put out of operation. For eX'- ample, this relief valve would be useful if the lostmotion device 39 were to become damaged, so that the valve would operate out -of proper' time and thus not provide required port opening for edectively handling all of the lubricant during the time available for so doing.

So far,

of its parts are placed upon a base 59 so th at it may be carried and placed as a unitiin proximity to a bearing which it is to lubrioate. The lubricating'line 61 leading from the koutlet port 27 is put into communication with a bearing. An exampleof how the machine. might be placed would comprise there has been described the ad- .LL A

locating it nea-r a steel mill Vand leading a' trunk and branch lubricating linesrfrom the outlet'port 27 to the bearings of said mill. Or, a single bearing might Abe supplied. Thus it will be seen that it is intended that these units be placed locally about a plant so that local conditions at various bearings may be provided for. y y

By having one machine at each location, it is possible to vary the character of the lubricant supply" to a given bearing as distnguished from that supplied to another. I also vary its amount and vary its period of application. To 'vary its character, it is only necessary to pour the proper lubricant into the container. Y

To vary the amount of lubricant the gears 5 may be changed so that the velocity rato between the mot-or M and the reciprocating plunger 15 is 'changed and thus more or fewer strokes can be accomplished during a given period of time and thus delivery of more or less lubricant. The period of application of the grease may be changed in a manner to be set forth hereinafter.

'In order to coordinate a plural-ity, such as four, of the units shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, an electric circuit such as shown in Fig. 6 is used. This circuit may be described as follows:

Referring to F ig. 6, there is shown at numeral 63 a main supply circuit. Connected in parallelacross the line 63 is aV plurality of said motors M driving pumping units 59.

' The motors M are seriallyconnected with separate magnetic switches 65, so that the motors M and the switches 65 are Vconnected across said line 63. When the switches 65 are closed the respectiveY motors M are energized to drive the pumping unit 59. At nuineral 67 is shown'a main magnetic switch,

Vthe trip coil 69 of which is energized by a shunt 71 connected across swingable contact points 73. The contacts 7 3 are located a main or centraltiming switch 75 wh'cli is supplied current by means of a. supply circuit 77 connected with the main line 63. It will be understood that the timing switch and the magnetic switches' and the like herein de-v scribed are themselves known and that there visfshown and described herein only enough of their elements to make clear the vfunctions of the system herein described.

The contacts 7 3 are timed to open and close at predetermined intervals by means of a set of cams 79, 81 connected to thee-ame shaft', such shaft being driven by a suitable synchronous or other constant speed motor 105 energized from said circuit 77. It is to be understood that where alternating current Vis not available a mechanical timing device Vmay be used .for driving the cam shaft. For purposes of explanation the cam 7 9 is shown comy posed of conducting material and connected closed.` Hence it will be' seen that the motor which is energized from said circuit continuously-drives the shaft on which the cams 79,

81 aremo-unted. YThe cam 81 is shown as non-conducting. It-will thus be seen that the period of time which the contacts 73 remains closed dependsupon the relative positioning of the cams 79, 81 and upon the rate at which they revolve. `The rate at which they revolve is a fixed quantity in a ygiven switch, but the relative angular positions of the cams 79,81 may be adjusted to suit particular conditions. Thus it will be seen that by means of the timingV switch 75, the trip coil 69 of the'main `magnetic (switch 67 is 'intermittently enerthe units M, 59; Y

The purpose of the push button stations 89 is to eifect manual, temporary starting of the motors M. They include contact bars 91 which are normally spring pressed to maintainclosure of the circuit83 at the switches 89.k By means of manually operable handles 93, the bars 91 may be pushed in so as to close a second set of contacts 95,said contacts 95 being located in a' circuit 97 which is fed from the main circuit 63, but the current ofwhich isnot adapted'to be broken lby theV magnetic switch 67 regardlessv of the position ofV said switch 67.

Thus it will be seen that thetripcoils 85'- of the magnetic switches 65 are normally fed current Vby way of said magnetic switch 67, which switch67 in turn is under control of the intermittently" closed contact 73 of the'timer switch 7 5. Vhen anyone of the 'handles 93 is pressed in so as to open the circuit83 includthe switch 67, then the circuit 97 is closed so'that tripping-of the respective switch 65 is eifectedvregardless of theV timing requiredby the timer switch 75. Both circuits 83 and 97 feed the tripcoils 85 by wayof lines 99 and l return current tothe main circuit by way of lines 101.

A push button switch 103 is usedin connection with the. timing switch and magnetic switch 67 `for .energizing the tripcoils 69y of the magnetic switch 67 independently of the action of the timing switch 7 5; .This is done by shortingvout the timer switch as shown by Fig.v 6. The switch 103 is also adapted-to be operated from fa manually controllable handle 9,3.A From the above thefollowing operationand functions will vvbe clear.:

The synchronous motor 105. inl the timing!" switch 7 5 isfcontinuously driven by the constantly closed circuit '77fwhich isr energized,

. gized so' as to intermittently'close a circuit 83 which 'circuit83 in turn energizes the trip lio from the main circuit 63. Thus, the motor 105 drives the cams 79 and 81. The cams are angularly adjustedon their shaft for `providing a suitable period of closure of the contacts 7 3.` Thus the trip coil 69 of the main magnetic switch 67 is intermittently energized so as to intermittently close said magnetic switch 67. It will be understood that the magneticswitch 67 automatically reopens when its coil 69 is de-energized.

' Intermittent closure. of the switch 67 results in intermittently energizing the circuit 83 and consequently the trip coils 85 of the magnetic switches 65. This results inthe 'motors M being intermittently started and stopped so as to operate the pumps 59 intermittently. It will also be understood that when the trip coils 85 are cle-energized that the'switches 65 automatically reopen. From Vthe above it will be seen that the whole system is timed to operate Aintermittently from the timing switches 75. For instance, the motors M may be made to operate once every three minutes vfor a period of one minute. The one minute period may be varied by adjusting the relative angularity of the cams 79, 81. The three minute interval may be varied by suitable changes in the timing switch 75, such as by varying the gearing between the motor105 and the shaft of cams 79, 81. This is a change, however, which would seldom be made after installation, the switch being designed for a suitable period of intermittency. n

If it be desired to temporarily increase the amount of lubricant pumped by all of the units 59, the manually controllable handle-93 of the central push button station 103 may be pushed so as to energize the trip coil 69 without energy passing through the timing switch 75 whereby the timing Vswitch 75 is temporarilyoverridden. Thus the trip coils are operated according to the .time that the handle 93 is heldin and as much lubricant may fbe pumped as desired.-.7'l`his mode of operation may be desirable, for instance, if the whole series of machineV which is being served by the unit 59 experience an overload temporarily. Whenever thek emergency is over, the handle 93 may be released so that the effect of the timing switch 75 is again inherent. It is to be understood that the timing switch 75 runs continuously during the time that the handle 93 is pushed in. Thus temporary operation of the system in part or in toto does notinterfere with subsequent accurate timing .by the switch 75.

Sometimes it is desirable that only one or several, butnot all, of the pumping unit 59 be temporarily operated for a longer period than is effected by the timing switch 75.V In

order to accomplish increased operation of only one unit, itis only necessary to push in the manually operable handle 98 ofthe respective station switch 89. -This causes "cury rent to iiow'in from the circuits 97 and thence to the respective trip coil 85, thence to operate the switch andthe respective unit 59. The handle 93 may beheld in as long or as short a period as is desirable to effect a desired result. For instance, a foreman may notice that a particular bearing is growing hot for some reason and, instead of shutting down the whole plant, can, during the working period, temporarily increase the amount of lubricant flowing thereto by operating the respective handle 93. Then, when the plant is idle, the bearing maybe repaired so that it may be operated at a later period in conjunction with the system as a whole. Other emergencies which would be provided forby the above function will readily suggest themselves.

To recapitulate, this` invention provides for the following: :l

1. Supplying a plurality of bearings with vlubricant from a given system such that each bearing or group of bearings may be supplied with al different lubricant. `The reason Vfor this is that separate units supply separate bearings or groups of bearings.

2. The amount of grease pumpedat one bearing or group of bearings may be varied after installation from the amount pumped to. another bearing or group, because it is possible to insert diii'erent gearing in the different units. Y l

3. Normally all bearings are automatically supplied lubricantat timed intervals.

4. All of the bearings may have a supply of lubricant temporarily increased as to amount (see switch 103).

54Any bearing or group of bearings may have an increased amount of lubricant supplied thereto locally (see switches 89). This feature is also useful in startin@r the apparatus. For instance, if a particular unit 59 loses its prime, the priming check 55V thereof may be opened while its switch 89 is manu-` ally held closed. This lubricant will be discharged from thevalve 55 and the voperator upon examination will know what kind kof lubricant is being used and he will also know the fact thatthe particular pump is operating properly.

In view of the above, it will vbe seen that the several objects of the invention 'are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

A s many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained. in the above description'or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim: Y Q Y.

1. A lubricating system comprising av plurality of pumping units, a driving motor^ for each unit, a switch vfor each ymotor, automatic means Vforfclosing said switches to operate the motors according topredetermined any motor independently of said automatic y means.

2. A lubricating system comprising a plurality of pumping units, individual means for driving said units, individual control means for said individual driving means, automatic means for energizing the control means according to predetermined timing and manual means for energizing any one of said control means to the temporary eX- clusion of the timing.

3. A lubricating system comprising a plurality of pumping units, individual means for driving said units, individual control means for said individual means, automatic means ifo-r energizing the control means according to predetermined timing, manual means for energizing any one of said control means to the temporary exclusion of the timing and means for manually and temporarily causing operation of all of said control means in unison independently of said timing means.

il. A lubricating system comprising a plurality of pumping units, individual means for driving said units, individual control means Jfor said individual means, automatic means for energizing the control means ac-V cording to predetermined timing, manual means for energizing any one of said control means to the temporary exclusion of the timing, means for manually and temporarily operating all of said control means in unison independently or said timing means and means associated with each pumping unit for changing the amount of lubricant pumped per unit of time.

5. A lubricating system comprising a plurality of pumping units and automatic means for eecting intermittent operation of said units according to a predetermined timing and means for locally, manually controlling the respective units. v

6. A lubricating system comprising a plurality of pumping units, automatic means for effecting intermittent operation of said units according to a predetermined timing, means for locally, manually controlling the respective units, manually operable means for temporarily increasing the amount of lubricant pumped independently of the timed means and means for locally changing the amount of lubricant pumped per unit of time.

7. A lubricating system comprising a pluralit of pumping units', individual motors for riving said units, individual magnetic switches controlling said motors, a main magnetic switch controlling said individual magnetic switches and a main timing switch controlling said main magnetic switch and manually operable individual switches associated with said individual magnetic switches and also with the timing switch, whereby the timing activity of the timing switch may be temporarily eliminated locally or in toto.

8. A lubricating system comprising a pluralit of pumping units, individual motors for driving said units, individual magnetic switches controlling said motors, a main magnetic switch controlling said individual magnetic switches, a main timing switch controlling said main magnetic switch and manv ually operable individual switches associated with said individual magnetic switches, whereby the timing activity of .the timing switch may be temporarily eliminated locally.

9. A lubricating system/comprising a plurality of pumping units, individual motors for driving said units, individual magnetic 1 switches controlling said motors, a main magnetic switch controlling said individual magnetic switches and a main timing switch controlling said main magnetic switch and manually operable individual switches associated with said individual magnetic switches and also with the timing switch, whereby the timing activity ofthe timing switch may be temporarily eliminated in respect to less than all of the pumping units or to all of them, manual operation of one individual switch for starting one motor not preventing said timing activity in connection with the other motors. f

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 13th day of September, 198

i FRANK S. BARKS. 

